Election Excitement
Coming home from church on Friday, we saw a Ministry of Interior Land Rover at a stoplight, with its lights revolving. That got our attention immediately, because if the lights are flashing, it usually means someone is in a hurry, but this guy was waiting patiently for the light to turn. As we noticed him waiting patiently, we also noticed he had his window open, and . . . he was wearing a balaclava, a face mask worn while skiing to keep your face warm but you can still see and breathe. The temperature was at least in the 80’s, and a ski mask to keep your face warm in Kuwait . . . well, that doesn’t make sense. Maybe if he was using his air conditioning, and it was too strong, and hurt his sinuses, well maybe . . .
Saturday we read this article from the Arab Times, which explained a little about what we were seeing:
Two Kuwaitis, officers hurt in Sabahiya clash; ‘Awazem’ battle securitymen
KUWAIT CITY : Two Kuwaitis and a number of securitymen were injured in a violent clash during which the Awazem tribesmen used sticks and stones against security forces, who were trying to stop them holding a primary in Sabahiya. The fighting took place Friday when about 5,000 securitymen from the Special Forces and Riot Police, supported by vehicles and helicopters, surrounded the Diwaniya of former MP and candidate in the upcoming elections from the fifth constituency, Ghanim Al Mei. The securitymen used tear-gas and rubber bullets to disperse the rioters. No arrests were reported. A similar incident some time back had prompted the then Minister of Interior to recall his forces from the Diwaniya of a former MP.
Sources said a large number of securitymen and CID officers were deployed as backup at a nearby cemetery. Security forces and election candidates are exchanging charges, each pinning the blame for the incident on the other. Former MP and candidate from the fifth constituency Abdullah Rai Al-Fahma in a press statement said, “Tribes are an integral part of the Kuwaiti society. They have the right to consult and choose their representatives to the National Assembly like the political blocs and other political organizations.” The government must stop this repressive measure before things take a serious turn, Al-Fahma added. Some observers and a number of candidates have opined the government is exacerbating the issue intentionally to prolong the election indefinitely by issuing ‘emergency decrees.’
My own country is also in an election year this year, and we have our own very strange ways of doing things. We have things like caucuses, and primary elections and delegates, and conventions to choose our candidates.
It is fascinating for me to watch what is going on in Kuwait and to try to figure out what is going on. Even reading reports in the newspapers, even gleaning from the blogs, it is hard for me to figure out why certain things are significant.
So I am guessing here that the tribes/families are acting as political parties and attempting to narrow the field by voting in secret diwaniyyas (diwaniyyas are spaces built in houses for either males or females to gather for visiting back and forth, but not mixed groups, or only very very rarely. They function like the benches on the town square, where people – mostly men – come and discuss issues, often reaching consensus on how an issue should be approached) for candidates that they can agree are electable. Once all the tribe/families have a chance to vote, they will select a slate of candidates to run in that district. This is my guess, based on what I read and see.
But in the districts, there are more than one family/tribe . . . so how do you agree to vote outside your tribal / familial boundaries? It is hard for me to understand how one tribe can gather enough influence to win. I am guessing that these diwaniyya “primaries” are being so actively discouraged because if one family wins too much, then they distribute favors among their own members, and others go without help? Is this a wasta issue? How do the tribes form alliances to win elections?
I would love to tell you that modern western countries don’t have these problems. It would be a lie. We have our own names for “wasta” and one is a term I can never imagine being used in Kuwait, Pork Barrel Legislation which means it doesn’t make sense from a big-picture point of view, it is legislation passed to benefit a few, and to insure that the elected guy can get elected again.
Will banning by-elections make a difference in the outcome of the election? What is the goal of the diwaniyya elections? How do the females get to vote if it is only men attending? What is the government’s goal in banning the by-elections?
11 Comments »
Leave a reply to intlxpatr Cancel reply
Recent Comments
Catherine on Donna Leon Crossing Cultu… intlxpatr on Ignoring the Law thani on Ignoring the Law Anon. on British Soldier Kidnapped, Esc… Reeva Mills on Cahors to Bordeaux, Preparing… Wikipedia Donate Button
Amazina
Early Voting in Florida
Here There and Everywhere 
wallah fashilona il Dutchmens
wallah, Wizardous, I haven’t a clue what you just said.
I read about all this and felt so sad!
I went to an AWARE event a couple of weeks ago where a Kuwaiti anthropologist was explaining the tribal system to us. One of his memorable quotes during the evening was that the tribes now function in modern Kuwait as political parties. He highlighted the tension though of an emerging democratic nation rising out of a traditional tribal society and clearly felt there was a long way to go before there was an easy compromise. Tribalism is here to stay, but it does seem to be at odds with the aspirations of Kuwaitis who want a democratic system. The government is clearly opposing the concept of tribe as a political party. Perhaps for the reasons you mention in your blog.
Blessings
Dutchmeans = the native people Holland = 3awazim 😛
The law to criminalize tribal primaries has been passed by parliament. (But the tribes are being emboldened by certain influential figures within the government who want to have “hands” in the Parliament.)
The primaries are organized differently by each tribe. Some like the Ajmi tribe have banned women’s participation, other’s have separate places for women to vote. (Which is really hysterical b/c they book a wedding hall and have dinner catered and the bride’s room holds the ballot boxes.)
Several tribes are voting by “sub-tribe” so in the end they up at their “conventions” with a handful of candidates (maybe even four).
The problem I personally have is that tribesmen/people are voting twice, effectively guaranteeing a seat for themselves in parliament. That’s not fair. They say they’re just like political parties but their not. Political parties are in theory open to all voters tribes are not. I have less of a say as a non-tribe affiliated Kuwaiti than a tribe-affiliated one.
They almost never vote for someone outside their tribe in general elections either. Especially not now in the five district elections. (Under the 25-districts, sometimes two strong tribal candidates of different tribes would run on a single slate if they’re both minorities.)
I think the government’s goal is enforcing the law and reigning this rampant tribalism in, in an effort to become a civil society.
(the whole riots thing is new to us. Bedou are bitter because they feel like they’re being treated like 2nd-class citizens. The truth is they’ve been violating the law insanely and any action to enforce the law has a great impact on their lives.)
Sorry about the Looooooooooong comment. I’ve been straddling both worlds for years and this year has been CRAZY for people like me who sympathize but don’t really identify.
Amu, at least you understand enough to be sad . . .I am trying to figure out what is going on!
Isn’t it amazing, all the elections going on these days, and all the election shenanigans – Zimbabwe! Kenya! Kuwait! the USA! Elections seem to be a little crazy-making.
RevQ8 – I hear such good things about the AWARE center, and that sounds like a event I would have loved to attend. It would have greatly helped my understanding here. Thanks for the heads-up.
Wizardous – getting a glimmer here, but not full understanding. What is “fashilona”?
GE&B – WheW! Take all the space you need! That is probably about as clear an explanation as I am going to get. Thank you!
Ack! Ack! Choke! Banned women’s participation??? Ack! Ack!
I love the idea of a CATERED election, LOL!
this is why i am a communist.
LOL @ Wizardous!!! That certainly makes an update to my post!
And people ask why I hate 3agad so much… They’re out of control.
Mrm – I don’t belive you! You’d have to share your camera!
Mac, there is something to be said for being excited about an election. For one thing, it indicates people believe that their vote will make a difference. I am missing your posts about your school experiences.